Boot-cleaner



(No Model.)

M. LESSER.

BOOT CLEANER. No. 281,893 Patented July 24, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX LESSEB, OF ATHENS, GEORGIA.

BQOT-CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,893,da.ted July 24, 1883.

Application filed March 29, 1883.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, MAX. LESSER, of Athens, in the county of Clarke and State of Georgia, have invented a new and Improved Boot- Cleaner, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved device 011 which the boots or shoes can be cleaned before entering a room, which device can be used for cleaning boots and shoes of every size. u The invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as herejecting arm, M, is fastened, on the upper end inafter fully set forth and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figurcl is a plan view of my improved boot-cleaner. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of the same on the line, at m, Fig. 2.

A base-plate, A, adapted to be secured, by means of screws, &c., to the floor, is provided with two grooved flanges, A, atthe side edges, which grooved flanges are open at one end.

' A frame, B, is provided at the bottom with outwardly-proj ecting flanges B, which fit into the grooves of the grooved flanges A, thus permitting the frame B to be passed into thebaseplate and held onthe same. On the rear raised part of the frame B a transverse scraper, C, is

secured, from which a plate, D, extends downward toward the rear end of the base-plate A,

from which plate the dirt and mud scraped from the shoes or boots slides down upon the base-plate A, and then can be swept off at suitable intervals. Between the scraper Oand the front end of the frameB ahorizontal transverse plate, E, is secured, 011 the upper surface of which,upwardly-projecting bristles F are fastened for cleaning the sole of the boot or shoe. Side pieces, G, covered on the inner surfaces with bristles H, are secured to spring-strips I, fastened on the inner surfaces of the side ,pieces of the frame B, which springstrips I press the side pieces, G, toward each other and over the upper surface of the plate B, so that if thefoot is placed on the plate E and between the side pieces, G, the bristles H on the side pieces, G, will be pressed against (No model.)

.K the piece K is beveled, as shown in Fig. 3,

and to the said end an upwardly-projecting handle-arm, L, provided on the top with a knob or button, L, is fastened. To the opposite end of the cross-piece K an upwardly-proof which arm is a block, N, which projects over the top of the frame, and is provided on its inner surface with a heavy rubber strip, 0. A like rubber strip, 0, is secured to the raised part of the frame B, opposite the block N. A spring, 1?, inserted between the frame B and the arm M, presses the arm M from the frame. When the foot is 011 the scraper O the arm L is pressed downward, and as the beveled part K of the cross-piece K slides on the beveled bottom edge of the slot or aperture in the side piece of the frame B the said arm L will be moved in the direction of the arrow at, and the block Nwill be moved in the same direction-that is, it will be pressed toward the foot resting 011 the scraper, and thereby the foot will be pressed against the rubber strip 0 and the rubber strip 0 will be pressed against the other side of the foot. By drawing the foot over the scraper the sides of the boot will be cleaned by the rubber strips. As soon as the arm L is released the spring 1? moves the same and the block Ninthe inverse direction of the arrow a again. A steel strip, Q, is held parallel with the longitudinal axis of the base, at the side of the same, and is provided at its free end with a fork, R, the ends of the shanks of which are provided with downwardly-projecting prongs or pins S.

If a rubber overshoe is to be removed from the foot, the heel part of the foot is placed in the forked arm in such a manner that the prongs S pass in between the heel part of the overshoe and the heel part of the shoe or boot. Then by pulling the foot upward the heel part of the overshoe is drawn off, and by moving the foot toward the fixed end of thestrip Q the forked end of the same will pass in between the sole of the overshoe and the sole of the boot or shoe and will remove the overshoe from the foot. The base-plate A always remains fixed; but the frame B and the devices held to the same can be removed and taken indoors at night, so that they cannot be stolen.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a boot-cleaner, the combination, with the scraper O, of the cross-piece K, the handlearm L, the arm M, the spring P, the rubber strip 0, and the strip 0 secured on the opposite side of the frame, substantially as here in shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a boot wiper and cleaner, the combination, with the base A, having grooved flanges A, of the frame B, having flanges B, and the scraper 0, having the inclined plate D, arranged to conduct the dirt and mud to the rear end of the base-plate of the device, substantially as set forth.

3: In a boot wiper and cleaner, the combination, with the frame B, of the loosely-held transverse piece K, having the beveled end K, provided with the handle-arm L, said crosspiece being provided with an upwardly-projecting arm, M, having an arm or block, N, overhanging the frame A, and provided with rubber strip 0, substantially as and for the purpose Vitnesses I. B. LITTLE, W. 13. JACKSON. 

